India-Russia: News & Analysis

[svinayak]

From 2005 to 2010 -
India had the
nuclear agreement
Expanded military alliances
Increased Defense spending
Added more foriegn supplies

India has changed from its earlier policies

[Philip]

Afghanistan is going to be crucial to future Indo-Russian relations,not that they are likely to nosedive,relations are far too integrated for that is not to,but a closer strategic functioning once the US has retreated.In fact,the US is not totally retreating,but keeping some key elements behind to deal with "ungodlies",bumping them off regularly with drone strikes.For this they need extensive Paki support. This is where the grand scheme unravels.Pak wants total control over the Af-Pak region as strat. depth with which to counter India,plus use the ungodlies in large number to invade J&K,"liberating" it.US support for Pak while pretending to be India's "strat. partner" against China,is unacceptable.The Sino-Pak JV aims at destroying India,nothing less.Therefore any nation which directly or indirectly supports this anti-Indian venture in substantial measure,will incur India's enmity.While I see Indo-US eco ties expanding,I see a point beyond which military cooperation cannot expand further as long as the US toes a pro-Paki line.It has sued Pak and the ISI in its covert ops for so long that the relationship is exceptionally hard to sever.

As the US retreats,the strat. space left behind will be a scramble to fill between Pak,China,Russia,India and the Northern Central Asian states.Iran too will be watching the scene carefully and will want to sanitise its own border with Afghanistan.Strong increased support for the Afghan govt, has to be made by India,providing it with mil.ware ,training-most essential in large numbers of Afghan troops and paras,and infrastructural aid.A combined strategy by an Indo-Russian led effort roping in the anti-Talib/Paki regional forces to support the Afghan govt. is needed.It should have together the required capability to deliver and defeat the Pakis,who are also vulnerable on their eastern front against an India that hits back.

[Manish_Sharma]

Is it just a conspiracy theory:

http://worldtruth.tv/russia-warns-obama ... very-soon/

The shocking minutes relating to President Putin’s meeting this past week with US Secretary of State John Kerry reveal the Russian leaders “extreme outrage” over the Obama regimes continued protection of global seed and plant bio-genetic giants Syngenta and Monsanto in the face of a growing “bee apocalypse” that the Kremlin warns “will most certainly” lead to world war.

According to these minutes, released in the Kremlin today by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation (MNRE), Putin was so incensed over the Obama regimes refusal to discuss this grave matter that he refused for three hours to even meet with Kerry, who had traveled to Moscow on a scheduled diplomatic mission, but then relented so as to not cause an even greater rift between these two nations.

At the center of this dispute between Russia and the US, this MNRE report says, is the “undisputed evidence” that a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically related to nicotine, known as neonicotinoids, are destroying our planets bee population, and which if left unchecked could destroy our world’s ability to grow enough food to feed its population.

So grave has this situation become, the MNRE reports, the full European Commission (EC) this past week instituted a two-year precautionary ban (set to begin on 1 December 2013) on these “bee killing” pesticides following the lead of Switzerland, France, Italy, Russia, Slovenia and Ukraine, all of whom had previously banned these most dangerous of genetically altered organisms from being used on the continent.

Two of the most feared neonicotinoids being banned are Actara and Cruiser made by the Swiss global bio-techseed and pesticide giant Syngenta AG which employs over 26,000 people in over 90 countries and ranks third in total global sales in the commercial agricultural seeds market.

Important to note, this report says, is that Syngenta, along with bio-tech giants Monsanto, Bayer, Dow and DuPont, now control nearly 100% of the global market for genetically modified pesticides, plants and seeds.

Also to note about Syngenta, this report continues, is that in 2012 it was criminally charged in Germany for concealing the fact that its genetically modified corn killed cattle, and settled a class-action lawsuit in the US for $105 million after it was discovered they had contaminated the drinking supply of some 52 million Americans in more than 2,000 water districts with its “gender-bending” herbicide Atrazine.

To how staggeringly frightful this situation is, the MNRE says, can be seen in the report issued this past March by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) wherein they warned our whole planet is in danger, and as we can, in part, read:

“As part of a study on impacts from the world’s most widely used class of insecticides, nicotine-like chemicals called neonicotinoids, American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has called for a ban on their use as seed treatmentsand for the suspension of all applications pending an independent review of the products’ effects on birds, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, and other wildlife.

“It is clear that these chemicals have the potential to affect entire food chains. The environmental persistence of the neonicotinoids, their propensity for runoff and for groundwater infiltration, and their cumulative and largely irreversible mode of action in invertebrates raise significant environmental concerns,” said Cynthia Palmer, co-author of the report and Pesticides Program Manager for ABC, one of the nation’s leading bird conservation organizations.

ABC commissioned world renowned environmental toxicologist Dr. Pierre Mineau to conduct the research. The 100-page report, “The Impact of the Nation’s Most Widely Used Insecticides on Birds,” reviews 200 studies on neonicotinoids including industry research obtained through the US Freedom of Information Act. The report evaluates the toxicological risk to birds and aquatic systems and includes extensive comparisons with the older pesticides that the neonicotinoids have replaced. The assessment concludes that the neonicotinoids are lethal to birds and to the aquatic systems on which they depend.

“A single corn kernel coated with a neonicotinoid can kill a songbird,” Palmer said. “Even a tiny grain of wheat or canola treated with the oldest neonicotinoid — called imidacloprid — can fatally poison a bird. And as little as 1/10th of a neonicotinoid-coated corn seed per day during egg-laying season is all that is needed to affect reproduction.”

The new report concludes that neonicotinoid contamination levels in both surface- and ground water in the United States and around the world are already beyond the threshold found to kill many aquatic invertebrates.”

Quickly following this damning report, the MRNE says, a large group of group of American beekeepers and environmentalists sued the Obama regime over the continued use of these neonicotinoids stating: “We are taking the EPA to court for its failure to protect bees from pesticides. Despite our best efforts to warn the agency about the problems posed by neonicotinoids, the EPA continued to ignore the clear warning signs of an agricultural system in trouble.”

And to how bad the world’s agricultural system has really become due to these genetically modified plants, pesticides and seeds, this report continues, can be seen by the EC’s proposal this past week, following their ban on neonicotinoids, in which they plan to criminalize nearly all seeds and plants not registered with the European Union, and as we can, in part, read:

“Europe is rushing towards the good ol days circa 1939, 40… A new law proposed by the European Commission would make it illegal to “grow, reproduce or trade” any vegetable seeds that have not been “tested, approved and accepted” by a new EU bureaucracy named the “EU Plant Variety Agency.”

It’s called the Plant Reproductive Material Law, and it attempts to put the government in charge of virtually all plants and seeds. Home gardeners who grow their own plants from non-regulated seeds would be considered criminals under this law.”

This MRNE report points out that even though this EC action may appear draconian, it is nevertheless necessary in order to purge the continent from continued contamination of these genetically bred “seed monstrosities.”

[member_27444]

read this which is related to the above post


http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/0 ... rlds-seeds

When unapproved genetically modified wheat was found growing in Oregon earlier this year, it didn't take long for accusations to start flying. A flurry of initial finger-pointing cast potential blame on a federal seed vault in Fort Collins, Colo., which housed the same strain of wheat, developed by Monsanto Corp., for about seven years up until late 2011.
The facility has been cleared of wrongdoing since then. A U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesman says all of Monsanto's 1,500 pounds of wheat seeds held at the vault were incinerated a year and a half ago at the corporation's request. But the investigation raises the question of how secure these seed vaults actually are.
Enlarge image i
"You'll want your camera out for this," Dierig said as he lifted up the lid to a cryogenic freezer capsule. In the cryo chamber, the collection expands to include not just seeds, but animal embryos, semen and microbes.

Grace Hood/KUNC

"You'll want your camera out for this," Dierig said as he lifted up the lid to a cryogenic freezer capsule. In the cryo chamber, the collection expands to include not just seeds, but animal embryos, semen and microbes.
Grace Hood/KUNC

[Austin]

Future is in transferring modern technologies and joint production - Ambassador of Russia in India

The future of Russian-Indian ties is in modern technologies and joint production, and not in evil tenders, Russian Ambassador in India Alexander Kadakin is convinced. On the eve of India’s Independence Day, he answered the questions of Voice of Russia correspondent Natalia Benyukh.

Q - For decades your activity as one of the key Russian diplomats is inseparably linked with India, with relations between our country and India. What are their peculiarities? Explain briefly some significant instances in which you have participated.

On the eve of India’s Independence Day - a very memorable, sacred day for Indians - I would like to warmly congratulate one billion and two hundred million of our friends in this beautiful, ancient, and very friendly country! Among the most memorable events of my diplomatic work I’d like to mention the Declaration of Strategic Partnership with India, which President Putin signed in October 2000, during my first Embassy rotation. Now this basic, fundamental document defines our relationships. This declaration made a very important precedent in the international diplomatic practice; this is a new form of diplomatic communication between two states - a strategic partnership, i.e. mutual confidence for many decades to come. Exactly ten years later, the two parties characterized this strategic partnership as a particularly privileged strategic partnership between two countries. I was directly involved in these events. Our relations are characterized by the highest degree of openness and trust, and of course mutual understanding and friendship.

Q - Besides the consistency of the development of relations between our countries, it should be noted that lately there have been some difficulties in some areas. The mutual trade and mutual investments of private businesses are not growing rapidly enough. Rosatom, AFK Sistema, and KAMAZ have faced difficulties in India. The situation has changed in the field of defence cooperation, which more recently was leading among all other areas of Russian-Indian ties. Does this reflect a trend or is it just teething troubles?

I think pessimistic assessments are inappropriate here. It's too early to bury our military-technical cooperation! Of course those who are busy with real work face problems from time to time, but these are teething troubles. All these pseudo-prophets from overseas are trying to throw a spoon of tar in a barrel of honey, exaggerating and inflating our one or two defeats regarding tenders. Look: a tender is, in essence, a "seller - buyer" relation. These are not modern relations in spite of all their supposed transparency and objectivity. We hand the most modern technologies to India, including military ones. I wonder what "world tender" could give India such a wonderful Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, which is about to head out of our Northern seas towards India? Tell me, what country in the world would give India the technology of producing aviation equipment and all the advanced things that we now possess? The future of our relationship lies precisely in this, and not in tenders, whose value is being incredibly inflated. And take the joint production of the world's best BrahMos cruise missile, which can be underwater-, surface-, and ground-based, and will also be placed under the wings of a plane next year. Tenders are tenders, but no country in the world shares with India the most secret and confidential things that it possesses. Look, now there are problems with Rafale, and again due to the issue of technologies transfer. Can you name another country, besides Russia, that would honestly hand technologies to India? There is no such country. This is the fundamental difference between our military-technical cooperation with India and its cooperation with other states. We want to see India as a strong, prosperous, powerful state, including in the military field. And to achieve this, we have done everything we can for the last 50 years, and are doing so now, and we will confidently move towards the future together.

Q - Analyzing bilateral ties and forecasting their development for the near future and their prospects, in your opinion, what really achievable priorities can be named?

First of all, the development of civil nuclear energy. According to the estimates of Indian scientists, even if by 2030 India buys up all the oil produced in the world, it will not be enough for its progressive, stable, and sustainable development. Nuclear energy, whose foundation was laid by Prime Minister Nehru, is vital for India. All intelligent Indians understand that perfectly. Fortunately, we are far ahead of other competitors. The first unit has already been launched. Our roadmap on cooperation regarding the peaceful use of atomic energy, which was signed, remains on the agenda, and we will continue to work on it despite the difficulties that arise, including in connection with the recently adopted Indian domestic legislation on civil liability for hypothetical damage. That's what we do, because the road map provides for a serial construction of up to 16 nuclear units.

[Cosmo_R]

@ Dhananjay ^^^:

Any site that has 'truth' as part of its name is either a conspiracy site or is an Onion clone

[Austin]

Can Russia stop Indian drift?

[Austin]

Rule of law, morality and a return to multi-polarity - Putin at Valdai

President Vladimir Putin had a very busy and successful past week on the heels of a successfully hosted G-20 Summit . The President has been key to averting another act of aggressive war by a certain western power, and for those efforts alone is truly worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize. President Putin took part in the yearly Valdai Discussion Club, an event where top experts and some of the sharpest minds from Russia and abroad meet in the context of a global dialogue about Russia.

At the 10th anniversary of the forum President Putin clearly showed he is a brilliant leader and statesman and why he was chosen by the Russian people as their president, his intelligent, forward thinking remarks covered everything from morality to the rule of international law to Syria as he laid out his views and his “roadmap” for the future of Russia and its interactions with a multi-polar world.

One of the biggest problems plaguing Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union is a unifying national idea or identity that applies to people of all walks of life and all political and ideological leanings. This problem has been one that has been difficult to address but at the same time pressing and urgent and the president and the forum did an excellent job in addressing this issue.

Another issue about which President Putin spoke was why patriotism is important for Russia. After years during which the country was being fragmented and the national pride of Russians was at an all time low after the collapse of the USSR, fortunately it is making a comeback.

In his opening comments president Putin touched upon many of the problems and challenges facing Russia today including that of mostly western ideology and “culture” which has eroded not only Russian society, but the world’s.

I have highlighted most of what was covered by President Putin and added some comments and invite you to read the entire transcript which we have published here and also to visit the site the president.

Erosion of Russian culture

In post Soviet Russia the nation is still searching for a tangible and unifying cultural and social idea and the amount of influence the ever changing world has had on Russia has made this particularly challenging.

President Putin said:“Today we need new strategies to preserve our identity in a rapidly changing world, a world that has become more open, transparent and interdependent. For us (and I am talking about Russians and Russia), questions about who we are and who we want to be are increasingly prominent in our society. We have left behind Soviet ideology, and there will be no return. It is evident that it is impossible to move forward without spiritual, cultural and national self-determination.”

On foreign influences

In reference to the ways other countries compete with Russia and each other and in contrast to the US model where their society is decimated, subjugated and oppressed while the military and monied interested attempt to completely dominate society and the geopolitical landscape President Putin stated that some countries forget the rule of law and even decency, undoubtedly referring to a certain western power.

“And today we see a new round of such competitions. Today their main focuses are economic-technological and ideological-informational. Military-political problems and general conditions are worsening. The world is sometimes forgoes not merely international law, but also basic decency. Every country has to have military, technological and economic strength, but nevertheless the main thing that will determine success is the quality of citizens, the quality of society: their intellectual, spiritual and moral strength. After all, in the end economic growth, prosperity and geopolitical influence are all derived from societal conditions,” said President Putin.

In reference to a national idea and profiteers such as Berezovsky

One problem Russia had after the collapse of the USSR was the lack of a national idea and President Putin commented on how this served the interests of those who wanted to pillage Russia.

“In addition, the lack of a national idea stemming from a national identity profited the quasi-colonial element of the elite – those determined to steal and remove capital, and who did not link their future to that of the country, the place where they earned their money,” said President Putin.

On attempts to force a western model on Russia

The failure of the west in reshaping Russia in their own image was due to the Russian people and not the state. This rejection was something the West tried to change through overt and covert efforts, such as through the influence of USAID and supporting an opposition which had only one agenda, to remove President Putin and the government, but their efforts failed due to the Russian people themselves. Something the West has failed to understand.

“A spontaneously constructed state and society does not work, and neither does mechanically copying other countries’ experiences. Such primitive borrowing and attempts to civilize Russia from abroad were not accepted by an absolute majority of our people. This is because the desire for independence and sovereignty in spiritual, ideological and foreign policy spheres is an integral part of our national character. Incidentally, such approaches have often failed in other nations too. The time when ready-made lifestyle models could be installed in foreign states like computer programs has passed,” said President Putin.

On accepting others and their differences

President Putin said it was important to listen to people with opposing views, to reject blind nationalism and racist models and be united by patriotism. True precepts of democracy and again something those in certain western countries should also follow.

President Putin stated: “All of us – so-called Neo-Slavophiles and Neo-Westernisers, statists and so-called liberals – all of society must work together to create common development goals. We need to break the habit of only listening to like-minded people, angrily – and even with hatred – rejecting any other point of view from the outset. You can’t flip or even kick the country's future like a football, plunging into unbridled nihilism, consumerism, criticism of anything and everything, or gloomy pessimism.”

“This means that liberals have to learn to talk with representatives of the left-wing and, conversely, that nationalists must remember that Russia was formed specifically as a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional country from its very inception. Nationalists must remember that by calling into question our multi-ethnic character, and exploiting the issue of Russian, Tatar, Caucasian, Siberian or any other nationalism or separatism, means that we are starting to destroy our genetic code. In effect, we will begin to destroy ourselves.”

Red lines

The president brought up the subject of “red lines that must not be crossed” but unlike some leaders did not do so as a threat to another sovereign power but as a matter of self-defense.

President Putin was very clear when he said: “Russia’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity are unconditional. These are red lines no one is allowed to cross. For all the differences in our views, debates about identity and about our national future are impossible unless their participants are patriotic. Of course I mean patriotism in the purest sense of the word.”

Opposition to Russia itself

Opposition to Russia as an entity and not to the government was a topic few have ever spoken about but the president touched upon this matter briefly:

“Too often in our nation's history, instead of opposition to the government we have been faced with opponents of Russia itself. I have already mentioned this; Pushkin also talked about it. And we know how it ended, with the demolition of the (Russian) state as such.”

On historical revisionism

There was a period after the collapse of the USSR where Soviet history was not taught in schools and even though the USSR was the greatest power in history people were being pushed by western agents to be ashamed of the Soviet period.

“We must be proud of our history, and we have things to be proud of. Our entire, uncensored history must be a part of Russian identity. Without recognising this it is impossible to establish mutual trust and allow society to move forward.”

On the degradation of morality in the West

Speaking about the decay in morality and the role that Christian values play in a healthy society, President Putin warned about the decay of morality in the West and the attempts to force that decay onto Russia. The implication is that Western Civilization is in decline.

“We can see how many of the Euro-Atlantic countries are actually rejecting their roots, including the Christian values that constitute the basis of Western civilization. They are denying moral principles and all traditional identities: national, cultural, religious and even sexual.”

“They are implementing policies that equate large families with same-sex partnerships, belief in God with the belief in Satan. The excesses of political correctness have reached the point where people are seriously talking about registering political parties whose aim is to promote pedophilia. … And people are aggressively trying to export this model all over the world. I am convinced that this opens a direct path to degradation and primitivism, resulting in a profound demographic and moral crisis.”

“Without the values embedded in Christianity and other world religions, without the standards of morality that have taken shape over millennia, people will inevitably lose their human dignity. We consider it natural and right to defend these values. One must respect every minority’s right to be different, but the rights of the majority must not be put into question.”

On a unipolar world

The president’s comments on multi-polarity and why one country must not be allowed to subjugate and control the rest of humanity were refreshing.

“At the same time we see attempts to somehow revive a standardized model of a unipolar world and to blur the institutions of international law and national sovereignty. Such a unipolar, standardized world does not require sovereign states; it requires vassals. In a historical sense this amounts to a rejection of one’s own identity, of the God-given diversity of the world.”

On rule of law

President Putin and the Russian Federation have proven and the record has shown that the rule of law and mutual respect are the true basis for successful international relations and that above all the states of the world must abide by international law.

“Russia agrees with those who believe that key decisions should be worked out on a collective basis, rather than at the discretion of and in the interests of certain countries or groups of countries. Russia believes that international law, not the right of the strong, must apply. And we believe that every country, every nation is not exceptional, but unique, original and benefits from equal rights, including the right to independently choose their own development path.”

“This is our conceptual outlook, and it follows from our own historical destiny and Russia's role in global politics. Our present position has deep historical roots. Russia itself has evolved on the basis of diversity, harmony and balance, and brings such a balance to the international stage.”

On multiculturalism

President Putin spoke about multiculturalism and why it has failed in the West but has succeeded and is in fact an import part of Russia, Russian society and Russian heritage.

“There is one more fundamental aspect to which I want to draw your attention. In Europe and some other countries so-called multiculturalism is in many respects a transplanted, artificial model that is now being questioned, for understandable reasons. This is because it is based on paying for the colonial past. It is no accident that today European politicians and public figures are increasingly talking about the failures of multiculturalism, and that they are not able to integrate foreign languages or foreign cultural elements into their societies.”

“Over the past centuries in Russia, which some have tried to label as the "prison of nations", not even the smallest ethnic group has disappeared. And they have retained not only their internal autonomy and cultural identity, but also their historical space. You know, I was interested to learn (I did not even know this) that in Soviet times (the authorities) paid such careful attention to this that virtually every small ethnic group had its own print publication, support for its language, and for its national literature. We should bring back and take on board much of what has been done in this respect.”

“Along with this the different cultures in Russia have the unique experience of mutual influence, mutual enrichment and mutual respect. This multiculturalism and multi-ethnicity lives in our historical consciousness, in our spirit and in our historical makeup. Our state was built in the course of a millennium on this organic model.”

“Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and other religions are an integral part of Russia’s identity, its historical heritage and the present-day lives of its citizens. The main task of the state, as enshrined in the Constitution, is to ensure equal rights for members of traditional religions and atheists, and the right to freedom of conscience for all citizens.”

“However, it is clearly impossible to identify oneself only through one’s ethnicity or religion in such a large nation with a multi-ethnic population. In order to maintain the nation’s unity, people must develop a civic identity on the basis of shared values, a patriotic consciousness, civic responsibility and solidarity, respect for the law, and a sense of responsibility for their homeland’s fate, without losing touch with their ethnic or religious roots.”

On the individual

Respect for the individual is one of the most noble goals of democracy and society and for me personally it was like a breath of fresh air to hear a world leader speak about this as it seems to have become a forgotten concept.

“Unfortunately, throughout our nation’s history, little value was given at times to individual human lives. Too often, people were seen simply as a means, rather than a goal and a mission for development. We no longer have that right and we cannot throw millions of human lives into the fire for the sake of development. We must treasure every individual. Russia’s main strength in this and future centuries will lie in its educated, creative, physically and spiritually healthy people, rather than natural resources.”

On education

While some countries are cutting and decimating their education systems to pay for more weapons and war President Putin made it clear that theis should not happen in Russia.

“The role of education is all the more important because in order to educate an individual, a patriot, we must restore the role of great Russian culture and literature. They must serve as the foundation for people’s personal identity, the source of their uniqueness and their basis for understanding the national idea.”

On Russian Federalism

Tackling one of the problems that is endemic to the largest country in the world, the president made it clear the development of the entire country is vital to keep it healthy and strong.

“Speaking of any kind of reforms, it is important to bear in mind that there is more to our nation than just Moscow and St Petersburg. In developing Russian federalism, we must rely on our own historical experience, using flexible and diverse models.”

“The Russian model of federalism has a great deal of potential built into it. It is imperative that we learn to use it competently, not forgetting its most important aspect: the development of the regions and their independence should create equal opportunities for all of our nation’s citizens, regardless of where they live, to eliminate inequalities in the economic and social development of Russia’s territory, thereby strengthening the nation’s unity.”

Importance of the Eurasian Union

As one of many growing economic, geopolitical, trade and regional unions that have begun to gain strength throughout the world, President Putin spoke about the Eurasian Union and why it is important for the development of the region. Another step toward multi-polarity in our diverse world.

“The future Eurasian Economic Union, which we have declared and which we have discussed extensively as of late, is not just a collection of mutually beneficial agreements. The Eurasian Union is a project for maintaining the identity of nations in the historical Eurasian space in a new century and in a new world. Eurasian integration is a chance for the entire post-Soviet space to become an independent centre for global development, rather than remaining on the outskirts of Europe and Asia.”

On Syrian chemical weapons attack

Having almost single-handedly stopped another act of aggressive war by a certain power which has revived the doctrine of preventive war, President Putin was very frank when speaking about the situation in Syria and what the proper steps should be to resolve the internal conflict in that country.

“ We have equal rights and equal responsibilities with all our colleagues involved in the discussion on Syria. This is not the first time I hear that I now carry a special responsibility. We all carry a special responsibility; we all carry it equally. …it became clear that chemical weapons had been used. But this was clear to us from the very beginning, and our experts agreed. The only thing that is unclear is who used it.”

“We have every reason to believe that this was a provocation. You know, it was clever and smart, but at the same time, the execution was primitive. They used an ancient, Soviet-made projectile, taken from the Syrian army’s armaments from a long time ago – it even had “Made in the USSR” printed on it. But this was not the first time chemical weapons were used in Syria. Why didn’t they investigate the previous instances?”

“This matter should be investigated as thoroughly as possible. If we finally get an answer, despite all obstacles, to the question of who did this, who committed this crime – and there is no question that it was a crime – then we will take the next step; we will then work with other UN Security Council colleagues to determine the culpability of those who committed this crime, together and in solidarity.”

“Second, on whether we will manage to convince Assad or not, I don’t know. So far it looks as though Syria has fully agreed to our proposal and is ready to act according to the plan that the international community is putting together, working through the UN. Russia and the USA, in the persons of Secretary of State Kerry and Foreign Minister Lavrov have already practically drafted the outlines of this plan. There is a special organization that will work together with the UN on this matter of eliminating chemical weapons. Syria has declared that it will join and that it indeed already considers itself to have joined the International Chemical Weapons Convention. These are practical steps that the Syrian government has already taken.”

“Let me just remind you about how these chemical weapons came about. Syria got itself chemical weapons as an alternative to Israel’s nuclear arsenal, as we know. What can be done about the various issues associated with proliferation and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains a very relevant question today, perhaps the most important issue of our time. If this situation gets out of control, like it once happened with gunpowder, the consequences will be unimaginable. We therefore need to strive towards nuclear-free status in particular parts of the world, especially in such volatile regions as the Middle East.”

On NATO expansion

After the collapse of the USSR and the subsequent dissolving of the Warsaw Pact under the promise by NATO that they would not expand, the world has seen the opposite and now NATO exists on almost every continent on earth in one or another. The NATO lie is one of history’s most wide reaching.

“… we were promised at one point that NATO would not expand beyond the former Federal Republic of Germany’s eastern border. That was a promise directly made to Gorbachev. True, it was not actually set out and written down. But where is NATO today, where is the border? We got cheated, to put it quite simply. That’s the whole story.”

On McCain, the refusal by the US to receive a Russian delegation and freedom of the press

After President Putin’s eloquent, informed and well received “Plea for Caution” in the New York Times, octogenarian right-wing US Senator John McCain, who recently spent hearings on an invasion of Syria playing on-line poker, attempted to “fight back” and only showcased American ignorance. President Putin was asked about McCain and graciously invited him to visit Russia and improve his knowledge.

“He (McCain) is not well-informed about our country. Actually, I would have been happy to see him here at the Valdai Club say, taking part in the discussions. As far as I know, our big television channels, the national channels, proposed that he come and take part in an open and honest discussion. There you have it, freedom of speech, freedom of the press. He is welcome to share his point of view with the whole country. In this respect, I can only express my regret that our American colleagues did not react to our parliamentarians’ proposal and refused to receive them in Washington for a discussion on Syria. Why did they do this? “

Using force outside of international law

The using of military force outside of the framework of the United Nations is illegal, and in fact is a Crime Against Peace. President Putin made this clear.

“The threat of the use of force and actual use of force are far from being a cure-all for international problems. Look at what we are actually talking about after all. We are forgetting the heart of the matter. We are talking about using force outside the framework of current international law. We’ve just been saying how the US Congress and Senate are discussing whether to use force or not. But it is not there that this matter should be discussed. It should be discussed in the UN Security Council. That is the heart of the issue. That is my first point.”

American “Democracy”

There is no true democracy in America, their system has failed.

President Putin said this: “It has happened twice in US history that the President of the United States was chosen by a majority in the electoral colleges, but with a minority of the actual voters. This is an obvious flaw in the electoral procedure, that is to say, a flaw at the very heart of American democracy.”

“As for what kind of government Russia should have, this is something for our citizens to decide, and not for our colleagues from abroad. We held an election a year ago, not so long ago, and the majority of Russia’s citizens voted for me.”[/quote]

All of the views and opinions expressed here are my own. I can be reached at [email protected] and once again I invite you to read the full transcript and share it with a friend.

Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_09_2 ... ldai-2237/

[Cosmo_R]

Putin etc ^^^: When Russia elects a non-Slav as President, I will consider it 'multicultural'. In Moscow, non-Russian looking types (dark hair or darker skin) are not simply discriminated against but physically abused. I'm talking about Armenians, Georgians and the like. Forget it if you look Tajik or African. Indians don't fare well either being typed as gypsies.

Putin may be right about US foreign policy but equal opportunity as in the US? fuggedaboudit !

[vishvak]

There is secularism in USA? By the way the current miss America was called names including terrorist and merely non Muslim. How is it better than gypsies to average person in US. In fact gypsy is still better. The equal opportunity part is rather well done when US is the only superpower. It wasn't so before ie before ww1 and Africans got right to vote post 1960. Not sure about USSR days though when Russians were at center of USSR and had many alies as a superpower.

[Austin]

India-Russia trade body endorses new framework to 15 projects

NEW DELHI: India-Russia Trade and Investment Forum has selected 15 high value, high tech projects for special attention in its seventh edition at St Petersburg.

"Indo-Russian Economic & Investment Cooperation Under which a total of 15 high value, high tech projects have been selected for special attention for ministerial supervision," a Commerce Ministry statement stated here.

Some of these projects include the establishment of India-Russian Joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd ( HAL) as joint centre of development of helicopters, joint project of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited ( RLL) and government of Yaroslavl region, production of Nitrogen Tetra Oxide for Space programme, cooperation between MMTC and ALROSA for long term supply of rough diamonds.

The other projects are ONGC Videsh Ltd's ( OVL) prospects for further hydrocarbon collaboration with Russian energy companies, participation of Russian companies in urea production in India under new investment policy, plant construction for manufacturing butyl rubber with capacity of 100000 tons per year at the production site of Reliance Industries in Jamnagar.

During the meet, the high level delegation of 120 Indian business leaders led by Commerce and Industry Minster Anand Sharma discussed various business opportunities with their Russian counterparts at India-Russia Trade and Investment Forum at St. Petersburg on Friday.

Special focus was on the three round tables on 'Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry', 'Tourism and Medical Tourism' and 'Trade in goods, services and innovative products'.

Sharma who came back yesterday, said "we discussed and noted the emerging opportunities in both the countries and we are hopeful that the three Round Tables have identified in detail the specific projects where we shall be cooperating."

Sharma sought regulatory simplifications for Indian companies who not only want to have market access but also look for establishing manufacturing base in Russia.

Sharma said, "as Indian pharma companies are keen to establish manufacturing bases in Russia, it is imperative that Russian government should address their concerns in an expeditious manner."

During the meet Sharma met Russian Minister of Economic Development Alksey Ulyukaev and took forward the discussion that he had with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

This visit assumes significance as the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to visit Russia next month.

[Agnimitra]

It keeps coming up:

Hare Krishna and the Russian Orthodox Church

[Philip]

The problem is that ISKCON has often been suspected of having been infiltrated by western intel agencies.H4re is a small xcpt. from an interview with a former member.

but there were a lot of people in the organization who were on the CIA payroll. The overseas temples were also infiltrated by CIA spies. The CIA could get its spies into obscure countries where ISKCON had temples, dress up in robes, and nobody would suspect.

The controversies about the institution make it extremely unlikely that Russia will allow it to set up shop in its territory.AS the xcpt. shows,it is the easiest way for an agent to enter a foreign country dressed in religious robes! One is quite sure that there are at least dozens of western agents masquerading as devotees of India's many religious groups.

In India,there are so many so-called "godmen",gurus,et al,who have very powerful followers,politicians,industrialists,Bolllywood starts,sports stars,etc.The gurus influence the followers.Thus foreign agents join these groups to get close to these prominent individuals and extract info,easy to do so if one masquerades as a fellow follower,as one is least suspected and the victim is more vulnerable.Being part of a powerful religious group also opens doors in many high places.We Indians get such a warm feeling when we meet or hear of westerners who have become devotees of Indian spiritual gurus and let our defences down.We feel so pleased that our ancient spiritual traditions are being recognised by so many foreigners,many famous ones too who become followers of our more famous gurus.I've known a few.Its such an easy way to infiltrate a nation.This method is not restricted to Hindu groups,but also to Christian and other religions too.

Here is just one Outlook article on the controversies in India.

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?281089

religion: iskcon
The Lord Have Mercy
ISKCON’s image is in the dumps, the scrap over Bangalore centre’s assets is one more nail...
Smita Mitra

All ISKCON temples in India are branches of Mumbai, where the movement is legally registered, including ISKCON Bangalore. Madhu Pandit Dasa registered another society in Bangalore to create confusion.
Madhu Pandit forged certain documents to create a false impression that Bangalore ISKCON was a separate entity and not a branch of Mumbai.
Pandit, his brother-in-law and some devotees of Bangalore started this smear campaign against Mumbai with the aim to grab the estimated Rs 500-cr property in the city.
Pandit and his brother-in-law were expelled by the global governing body, why did they sue Mumbai ISKCON for it?
In Dec 2001, Pandit circulated a letter to over 20,000 life members talking about ISKCON’s internal problems by forging the Vrindavan temple chief’s sign.

Bangalore ISKCON’s Hare Krishna Hill temple registered as a separate entity, ISKCON Mumbai has no control over it.
Madhu Pandit Dasa came to Bangalore only in 1983, much after ISKCON Bangalore was registered in 1978. So there is no question of him taking control. Besides, temple assets cannot be sold.
A devotee gave a donation of Rs 150 crore to ISKCON Mumbai, but this amount was not deposited in the ISKCON account.
Every other day a guru falls from grace with allegations of sexual abuse, embezzlement, duping disciples but the Mumbai headquarters and the global governing body council takes no action.
ISKCON Mumbai’s trustees have been selling temple property worth Rs 30 crore illegally for personal gain.

A state of “semi-consciousness” runs deep in many Krishna devotees nowadays, mostly related to their precious International Society for Krishna Consciousness which has had a harrowing time of it of late. The officials who run it and the swamis they once looked up to are all in the news, and for quite unholy reasons. ISKCON, in the last few years, has been dragged to court over allegations of child abuse, sexual abuse, molestation cases, murder, drug trafficking, copyright violations, financial fraud...the list runs long. The biggest blow came in 2001, when the organisation settled, out of court, a $400 million lawsuit filed by 44 adults who said they had been abused as children at Hare Krishna boarding schools in India and abroad, with the worst cases recorded in Mayapur in Bengal, and Brindavan in Uttar Pradesh. In 2002, most ISKCON centres in North America filed for bankruptcy to pay the reparation amounts to abuse victims there.

Now, a decade later, more skeletons are tumbling out of the closet in India. A major legal war, no less, is going on between the Mumbai and the Bangalore centres over control of property worth an estimated Rs 500 crore on the Hare Krishna Hill at Rajaji Nagar in Bangalore. Madhu Pandit Dasa, president of the ISKCON Bangalore temple, insists that the trouble started in 1998. “The trigger point was the fall of Harikesa swami. We had been told that he was a great sanyasi guru, a great spiritual leader. He had over 3,000 disciples, mainly in Europe. When he left ISKCON to marry a massage therapist and left with millions of dollars, we were naturally stunned.”

The Hare Krishna hill, in Bangalore. The latter project, said to be worth Rs 500 cr, is at the heart of the conflict. (Photography by Jagadeesh N.V.)

And this high-ranking-guru-turning-rogue wasn’t a one-off. Of the original 11 disciples appointed by Srila Prabhupada (the founder of ISKCON) for the management of the movement worldwide, nine have “fallen from grace”, with cases ranging from child molestation to murder, embezzlement, sexual abuse, homosexuality, opulent living and duping disciples registered against them. The “latest guru to fall” is Prabhuvishnu Swami, who left ISKCON Australia in 2011 to live in Bangkok with a commercial sex worker he had met there, says Madhu Pandit. After Srila Prabhupada died in 1977, 41 gurus have left ISKCON, many allegedly making off with large sums of trust money. Which is why the Bangalore branch says it doesn’t want anything to do with the rest of the movement in India which is, incidentally, headed by Mumbai.

ISKCON Mumbai has technically been the nodal agency for all the temples and branches in the country. They allege that the Bangalore camp is out on a smear campaign. “This is simply a case of Madhu Pandit and his family members trying to usurp the Bangalore property,” says Dayaram Das, spokesperson for ISKCON’s 22-member bureau in India. He alleges that Madhu Pandit forged the signature of their temple president in Vrindavan on a letter written to life members to woo them away from Mumbai. “Before this happened, we were trying to make peace but we had to take action against the letter because it was an act of indiscipline and insubordination,” says Dayaram Das. He also claims that Madhu Pandit rents the premises of the temple in Bangalore to trusts run by himself or his family members.

Some of these trusts include businesses like selling Krishna-related paraphernalia etc. The trusts also include the Rs 81-crore Akshaya Patra, an NGO that feeds 1.3 million school children mid-day meals across the country. They have also set up a real estate company, says the Mumbai faction, developing the land around Bangalore’s new Krishna Lila Park project, which in Madhu Pandit’s words, will be a “spiritual Disneyland” filled with attractions based on Lord Krishna’s leelas and will also have ISKCON’s tallest temple. Pandit squarely refutes the charge of embezzling funds though. “Our accounts are published and we have won awards for clean accounting. We have outside trustees for Akshaya Patra that receives funds from the government. Because it is a public-private partnership, we have kept its accounting separate from donations received for ISKCON Bangalore.”

Hare Hare Iskcon devotees in Lucknow strike up a bhajan. (Photograph by Nirala Tripathi)

The Bangalore camp says Mumbai can’t accept the fact that the city’s Hare Krishna Hill and the Akshaya Patra projects are extremely successful—and solely developed by them. They say despite the repeated attempts of many devotees, it was only in 1998 that there was even a discussion in India about why so many gurus had “fallen”. They also discovered a document—famously called the “July 9 letter” in ISKCON higher circles—where Prabhupada had left instructions that after him there would only be “ritviks” or representative acharyas who would initiate disciples in his name.

After Prabhupada died, ISKCON was divided like an empire among the 11 disciples, each proclaiming they were gurus.

“The governing body council (GBC), even when Prabhupada was alive, had tried to replace the federal organisational structure, where each temple functioned as a separate legal entity, with a centralised, bureaucratic structure,” says Chanchalpati Dasa, Madhu Pandit’s brother-in-law and vice-chairperson. This move was countered by Prabhupada by dissolving the GBC temporarily. However, after he died, ISKCON was divided like an empire among the 11 disciples (none of them Indians), with each proclaiming they were gurus by disciple-succession. New recruits had to worship them as gurus and Prabhupada was ascribed the role of “founder-acharya”, accuses Chanchalpati. “I made a presentation to the GBC, asking them to revert to Prabhupada’s original instructions,” says Pandit.

The GBC immediately expelled him, his brother-in-law and another colleague, Adridharam Das, who was at the time the Calcutta temple president and a pro-reform proponent. However, being only a so-called ‘ecclesiastical body’ with no legal powers, the GBC asked ISKCON Mumbai to legally remove all the three from the movement. The Mumbai chapter says they were only acting on behalf of the global body in expelling these “rebels”. Dayaram Dasa says Madhu Pandit and co should have sued the governing body, not the Mumbai branch. “I am also against these corrupt gurus and the way ISKCON is being affected by it all. But it’s an internal matter and should be resolved internally. Pandit has dragged it out into the open only as an excuse to usurp the property in Bangalore...which actually belongs to Mumbai,” he says.

So as charges fly thick and fast, it’ll now be the courts who finally decide the real ISKCON contenders. The high court verdict went against the Bangalore faction, which they have since challenged. In this war of faith, the one left bemused is the ordinary ISKCON devotee.

[vishvak]

That's no good that western spooks target ISKON for their nefarious activities.

Before a spook is caught open he should be made to perform Krishna bhajans till he gives up and then caught officially.

[Rudradev]

RUSSIA'S ONLY HINDU TEMPLE TO BE DEMOLISHED

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... ary-temple

From a related report in The Hindu

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/k ... 151000.ece

The Krishna community’s ordeal began in 2004 when its temple on Begovaya Street was demolished to make way for high-rise construction under an urban development plan. The city government offered ISKCON a patch of land for temple construction on Leningradsky Prospect, but two years later tore up the agreement following strong protests from the Russian Orthodox Church.

Orthodox hierarchs objected to the large size of the proposed Krishna temple and its location on the site where thousands of Muscovites had been trampled to death during the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II in 1896.

ISKCON was offered another plot of land on the sparsely populated outskirts of Moscow, but that was again taken away earlier this year just as the Krishna community was about to launch the construction.

“We spent about 70 million roubles ($2.5 million) donated by our followers on preparing the project, but the Moscow government withdrew its permission just as we completed the long-winding project clearance procedure,” said Sergei Andreyev, who is in charge of the temple construction at Moscow ISKCON.

In their terse written response to questions from The Hindu, the Moscow Mayor’s Office cited “mass protests by residents” as a reason for cancelling the allocation of land for the Krishna temple.

This argument raised eyebrows at ISKCON.

“The nearest apartment houses are about one kilometre away from where our temple was to be built,” said Mr. Andreyev.

Yet, protests did take place a year ago when hundreds of Orthodox Christians and Muslims picketed the site of the would-be Krishna temple to protest the foundation stone laying ceremony.

The Moscow government is now promising to find another site for an ISKCON temple, but is yet to come up with a concrete offer. Meanwhile, the threat of eviction is still hanging over the temporary Krishna temple on Leningradsky Prospect.

“Bailiffs have given us a respite, but they may be back any time, so we’re moving out our stuff,” Mr. Andreyev said. “However, we have no place where to move the temple.”

ISKCON devotees argue that the Krishna temple in Moscow has not only religious, but also cultural value for Hindus living in the Russian capital.

“Our temple is the only place to fulfil not only the religious, but also the cultural and social needs of Indians, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis, Mauritians and Nepalese,” Priya Das said. “This also helps their children to keep in touch with their culture and religion.”


The ISKCON temple woes come two years after state prosecutors tried to ban a Russian translation of the Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, accusing the Krishnaites’ sacred book of inspiring “religious hatred” and being “extremist in nature.” After months of hearings, a court in the Siberian city of Tomsk threw out the case, but the trial left a bad aftertaste in the Krishna community.

“It is difficult to say whether there is some persecution or somebody is against Hinduism in Russia, but if you think logically, you come to the conclusion that there may be some ideological reason behind it,” Priya Das said.

Although the Hare Krishna movement was legalised in Russia in 1988 it is still looked upon with suspicion and hostility by many Russians.


Christian and Muslim activists have repeatedly protested against ratha yatra rituals, held by ISKCON across Russia every year “under the guise” of a festival of Indian culture.

“They obtain permission to have a cultural event, but instead engage in shameless propaganda of their religious teachings,” fumed Father Rafail of the Iveron Monastery in Vorkuta, a city of coalminers in Russia’s Arctic region. “They hand out religious books, sing the glory of Krishna and offer people prasada, which is consecrated food.”

[So according to these scumbags, Hindu religious teachings are something to be ASHAMED of]

The priest compared Hare Krishna to Aum Shinrikyo, a Japanese doomsday cult.

Religion expert Mikhail Sitnikov denounced the campaign unleashed by the Russian Orthodox Church against ISKCON as a case of “Christian fundamentalism.”

“The Russian Orthodox Church sees the Society for Krishna Consciousness as a strong competitor and is trying to oust it from Russia in the same way as it is trying to suppress the non-Orthodox Christian denominations,” the expert said.

[JE Menon]

In its early days this group was a strongly suspected by our government of being an intel facade. There wasn't much respect or regard for this group. I don't think much has changed since. Using sadhu types for intel gathering has been in play since before chanakya. India is not surprised by this sort of thing...

They have done some good, incidentally, of course.

[Rudradev]

Make no mistake, the Russian Orthodox are every bit as fundamentally hostile to India and Dharmic civilization as Western Evangelists and West Asian Islamists. What we may think of ISKCON per se is irrelevant... it is Krishna, and the Bhagavad Gita itself, that inspire such levels of Abrahamic hatred that both Orthodox Christians and Islamists have made common cause to launch a systematic campaign of suppression and state-abetted persecution against Hindus in Russia. It's time we stopped cooking up excuses for the b@stards while they spit on these essential symbols of our civilization.

[Lilo]

RD ji,
Russians are anyway these days xenophobic - not particular to Hindus.
The effect of their sinking Slav population.
In ISKONS case its well probable that the State apparatus knows it to be some Western Trojan horse.

[JE Menon]

Correct. The Orthodox Slavs are rabid against any other, and some of the most venom is saved for fellow Christians - catholics and evangelists. In that sense Hinduism is hardly on their radar, Buddhism is more of a target. That does not mean there is any preference for Hinduism, just that we are lower on the target list. Watching the Orthodox Slav priests - especially Serbs - discoursing on their religion and the dangers out there will make your skin crawl (in the English translation).

It is important to remember, however, that not many Russians wear their orthodoxy on their sleeves. Many just take it as part of the nationalist furniture. My feeling is that there is a real reason that the Russian state and church infrastructure is reacting in this manner - the latter is being truly undermined by the proliferation of faith systems in Russia - especially the evangelists, and the subtle catholics. Hindus are a small factor in this, but easily put down - and that's what seems to be happening.

[Hitesh]

Phillip,

Where's your usual sense of outrage against Russia for the treatment of ISKCON? If this happened in America or Britain, you would be spitting iron pellets at America or UK.

This kind of thing would not happen in America. America has far superior protection rights of minorities than Russia has to offer. For every atrocity committed by USA, I can point to 10 atrocities committed by Russia.

I know Russia is a friend of India but there's something to be said about Russia. Russia is only a friend when she is far away. When she is your neighbor, beware very carefully.

[Cosmo_R]

Make no mistake, the Russian Orthodox are every bit as fundamentally hostile to India and Dharmic civilization as Western Evangelists and West Asian Islamists. What we may think of ISKCON per se is irrelevant... it is Krishna, and the Bhagavad Gita itself, that inspire such levels of Abrahamic hatred that both Orthodox Christians and Islamists have made common cause to launch a systematic campaign of suppression and state-abetted persecution against Hindus in Russia. It's time we stopped cooking up excuses for the b@stards while they spit on these essential symbols of our civilization.

+1 and this is exactly why I get upset when certain members are reflexively anti-American but blithely overlook the same or greater trespasses by the Russians. The Slavs are no friends of Indians/Hindus. Witness this episode in Kiev:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/vi ... uro-851614

The hospitals then delayed and dallied in treating them. BTW, they were rooting for the home team. This would never happen in today's US.

[Cosmo_R]

.....

I know Russia is a friend of India but there's something to be said about Russia. Russia is only a friend when she is far away. When she is your neighbor, beware very carefully.

IMHO, Russia is not a friend of anyone including India. They need us to buy stuff they cannot afford and can't sell to anyone else. We keep buying it because of incentives they provide to individuals along the purchase chain and from the misplaced fear they would sell it to TSP or PRC. Look at the hissy fit that the Russian guy threw at Aero India.

A much healthier relationship would be to only buy stuff from them that unkil won't/can't sell: nuke subs for example or certain chemicals to improve missile thrust to weight/size.

This whole PAK/FA stuff is going to be another Gorshkov. They'll have the plane but not the engines, we'll have to buy tires from them etc.

[Hitesh]

Cosmo_R,

That is why IA must be forced to purchase Arjun tanks and throw headlong into indigenization process so we are not dependent on Russia. Likewise with IAF. But the biggest change has to come through MoD. There needs to be a serious reform of MoD.

Once we master the making of the engines and the metallurgy and material science, we can be a great power in our own right.

[Cosmo_R]

Cosmo_R,

That is why IA must be forced to purchase Arjun tanks and throw headlong into indigenization process so we are not dependent on Russia. Likewise with IAF. But the biggest change has to come through MoD. There needs to be a serious reform of MoD.

Once we master the making of the engines and the metallurgy and material science, we can be a great power in our own right.

Agreed. But you and I have no idea of how the Russian purchases fund/not fund political parties. Can't do it with FMS, the Brits or French (EU leaks). But the Russians are a cipher, a great laundering machine.

[Philip]

Hitesh,I've posted earlier how ISKCON has been involved in several controversies in India and abroad and has been heavily infiltrated by western intel agencies.Russia is a country that is paranoid about western intel ops especially after attempts are being made to bring back the Cold War atmosphere by die-hard Cold War warriors. It is unlikely that the govt. there will view it with favour.There are many other Indian religious institutions which are non-controversial and which should, if they're truly interested in spreading their philosophy in Russia seek access.Let's see how they are treated.In general though,those truly interested in Indian religions like Hinduism and Buddhism,come to India to get the "authentic" content.Many also become converts.
y some are leaving the church.

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/the-r ... -responses

The Russian Orthodox Church in the Post-Soviet Period: Challenges and Responses
April 25, 2011

“The new religious reality in the post-Soviet period brought religious freedom, along with the idea of religion as a personal matter, a novelty that actually generated many challenges for the Russian Orthodox Church,” stated Olga Kazmina, Professor, Department of Ethnology, Moscow State University; Visiting Fulbright Scholar, Department of Religion, Emory University; and Former Regional Exchange Scholar, Kennan Institute at a 25 April 2011 Kennan Institute event. “The essence of many of those challenges,” she continued, “was how to cope with this inherited idea of religion as a part of culture and new idea of religion as a personal matter.”

In her analysis of the Russian Orthodox Church and its recent adaptations, Kazmina discussed the role of the Church in both pre-Soviet and Soviet times. From pre-revolutionary Russia, the modern Russian Orthodox Church inherited the “close interconnection of religious and ethnic identities, which considered religion a powerful force of cultural tradition and an integral part of ethnic tradition.” In the secularized Soviet Union, “religion was preserved as a custom of rites and rituals, and hence, a part of ethnic culture—not as a private affair, but a part of general, cultural, historical and ethnic traditions.”

Kazmina then examined how these trends impacted the recent history of the Russian Orthodox Church by dividing up the past two decades into three periods, during which the religious principles evolved to correspond with the changing ideals of the Russian population. In the early 1990s, a new Russian society witnessed drastic changes in everyday lifestyle. “One of the novelties was increased religious diversity,” affirmed Kazmina: “religious pluralism in the early nineties was favored both by the mood of the population, which was in that time open to everything new, and by the religious legislation.” The Law on Freedom of Beliefs, adopted in 1990, advocated “a personal choice of religion, on the perception that religion is the private affair of a person.” The law placed all religious denominations on equal footing, thereby favoring the influx of many religious organizations into Russia. Kazmina explained that this perceived equality fostered a sense of competition among religious groups, as well as introducing the issue of proselytism among these different religions in Russia.

The Russian Orthodox Church’s reaction, the speaker noted, was to go on the defensive and adopt an “isolationist” position, which involved emphasizing the Church’s cultural and ethnic roots in connection with the history of the Russian people and perceiving the Russian land as historically canonical territory. By the late 1990s, this initiative became more widely accepted, as the feelings of the general population changed from the euphoric embrace of Western values to more traditional and nationalistic ones, while the recognition of the historical connection between religion and ethnicity grew stronger. The Russian Orthodox Church itself began to view “other religious denominations through the prism of ethnicity,” Kazmina noted, “resulting in better relations with the non-Christian religions of Russia—the religions of our neighbors.”

By the mid-2000’s, proselytizing was no longer among major concerns and the Russian Orthodox Church fostered improved relations with other Christian denominations, “preserving Christian morals and values.” The Church “strengthened its position in the country and in society,” exercising a very strong influence, and even began to expand to foreign countries, including those not predominantly Orthodox.

Kazmina concluded that over the past two decades, the views of the Russian Orthodox Church on religious diversity and pluralism were shaped by its own position, by its own feeling of security or insecurity. By concentrating on the “long-existing tradition of inter-correlation between religion and ethnicity” and adapting to the idea of religion as a personal matter, the Russian Orthodox Church was able to survive the changes in Russian society and the influx of new religious ideals, as well as strengthen its position as a vital element of Russian culture.

By Christian Dallago
Blair Ruble, Director, Kennan Institute

http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c39/723163.html

29/04/2013 OPINION
Why Orthodox believers are converting to other Christian denominations
By Itar-Tass World Service writer Lyudmila Alexandrova

*If we want to reduce the dependence upon foreign manufacturers,then first a genuine policy of incremental indigenisation should take place,giving a priority to those areas where we are weakest.Secondly,there should be transparency about successes and failures.No tall talk that can't deliver as is wont with many of our DPSUs.Targets and budgets must be met.The project and Dept. heads must be held responsible for their tasks.The new policy of appointing Dir. Generals for various entities is very welcome.They should have the authority and infrastructure required for establishing a conducive atmosphere for success.There was an article in one of the weeklies about babudom expanding its tentacles in controlling the affairs of the nation even after retirement of the babus.The red tape in the MOD should also be drastically cut down so that swift decision making is allowed to flourish.If the current situ remains,then even if our DPSUs deliver,the disease of indecision will destroy any gains made.

[JwalaMukhi]

+1 and this is exactly why I get upset when certain members are reflexively anti-American but blithely overlook the same or greater trespasses by the Russians. The Slavs are no friends of Indians/Hindus. Witness this episode in Kiev:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/vi ... uro-851614

The hospitals then delayed and dallied in treating them. BTW, they were rooting for the home team. This would never happen in today's US.

Ukranians are well known to be most racist. It is known even in Chicago, the Ukranians would not rent to other colored people.

Russia in general has been a closed society. They do not have the depth, neither interest in cultivating a global cultural/societal outlook. Russia does not have wherewithal to provide anything else meaningful, other than selling arms.
The relationship with Russia is like US-naPak relationship. They continue just because many a people have built careers developing contacts and finesse in the art of such relationship. Having extensive imports from Russia has hampered even any effort to be self-reliant. That is Ok with the career people who are well atuned and at home with such a relationship. Good for career and retirements etc.
Becoming self reliant is not just flogging the PSUs to shape up. It requires complete eco systems to be built and fortified. Lot of market driven incentives and market driven support systems need to thrive in every sector including education etc., the whole nine yards. This kind of expertise will not happen if Russian mode of operating is pursued. Heck even Russia is slowly opening up to do things openly in democratic way.
There are other successful models that have sustained growth in holistic development, which fuels even the most sought after self-reliant indigenization in defense matters.
Being over-reliant on Russian imports has been a disaster in pursuing what is most important, as it has had a soporific effect.

[Agnimitra]

Hitesh,I've posted earlier how ISKCON has been involved in several controversies in India and abroad and has been heavily infiltrated by western intel agencies.Russia is a country that is paranoid about western intel ops especially after attempts are being made to bring back the Cold War atmosphere by die-hard Cold War warriors. It is unlikely that the govt. there will view it with favour.There are many other Indian religious institutions which are non-controversial and which should, if they're truly interested in spreading their philosophy in Russia seek access.Let's see how they are treated.In general though,those truly interested in Indian religions like Hinduism and Buddhism,come to India to get the "authentic" content.Many also become converts.

The fact that at one time CIA and mafia was known to have infiltrated and subverted Iskcon doesn't mean that a large proportion of its practitioners aren't genuinely touched by the literature and culture and passionate advocates of it. In countries across the world, Iskcon serves as a frontier org penetrating virgin territories and a "portal" through which the curious then delve into the deeper resources of Hinduism via other institutions.

Russia's inhumane treatment of Iskcon converts since Soviet times cannot be justified by this CIA conspiracy theory. Iskcon has lists of "martyrs" who died in prison for their beliefs and whose memoirs are now published. Some are from Russia, some from Georgia, Armenia, etc...all over that region - a region to which I believe you have some connection?

An Iskcon Ratha yatra in Moscow was pelted with stones by Orthodox Christian believers - directed by a senior Orthodox cleric on site who lives in and operates from the US. If you can justify the persecution by CIA conspiracy, then I would like to hear your thoughts on the peculiar trans-Atlantic nexus of this Christian institution.

I think it is strange that you are carrying this CIA conspiracy theory a bit too far, justifying horrendous persecution and asking Hindus to be absolutely unmindful of whatever happens to Iskcon. In Kazakhstan, where Iskconers are also being persecuted, state TV ran reports of the satanic rituals involving slaughter and eating of babies that are supposedly part of Iskcon's Vaishnava culture. I suppose there is some truth in this, too?

[Philip]

Racist and violent behaviour by so-called religious groups,Russian Orthodox groups whoever,is totally condemnable.If such groups have attacked ISKCON members they should be prosecuted. However,each country has its own decisions to make when allowing religious groups to enter and operate.By the same yardstick would we allow a fundamentalist Islamic madrassa,say funded by the Saudis whoever, that has suspected links to terror groups or the ISI to operate in India? Similarly,I am totally against so-called EJ entities who front for their foreign masters but have been allowed to operate openly in India,"buying" converts .Many of the followers of these groups too may be genuine but are being manipulated by their leaders who have vested interests.Some of these groups have been actively involved in the anti-national anti-nuclear protests at Koodankulam.The IB has enough evidence against some of them and the NGOs involved, and the GOI should really ban them,but is consumed with a vote-bank mentality and we have seen little action taken against them thus far as elections approach.

[Agnimitra]

each country has its own decisions to make when allowing religious groups to enter and operate.By the same yardstick would we allow a fundamentalist Islamic madrassa,say funded by the Saudis whoever, that has suspected links to terror groups or the ISI to operate in India?

(Actually India does allow such virulent groups to operate, but that's a different discussion.)

1. Are you suggesting that Iskcon (with bona fide ideological roots in Bengal Vaishnavism) is ideologically equivalent to a Saudi-funded terrorist network of madrasas?

2. Or are you suggesting that even if a basically benign ideological group has (or had) a certain level of infiltration by inimical intel agencies, then all assemblies of that org should be banned? If that is the case, India should ban even the Catholic Church along with almost all Islamic sects! If there is a wolf in sheep's clothing, should all sheep be banned?

[Agnimitra]

OK I just read your edited post. So then you do agree that it is no logic to ban a religious sect because some of its orgs are or were infiltrated. That itself means that such overly done suspicion and certainly persecution must be condemned at the highest levels.

Any Iskcon watcher knows that the org has undergone a lot of churning and is undergoing a lot of transformation, one of which is rapid Indianization and Sanskritization. That is further reason for Hindus and all right-thnking individuals to raise their voice against Russian state and Christian Orthodox Church-sponsored persecution of Iskcon - against a tide of genuine interest from ordinary Russians themselves.

I would support the right of my fellow-Indians to convert and assemble in any EJ or Islamic org in India, despite overwhelming and continuing evidence of infiltration by inimical foreign agencies.

[Philip]

It is for each country to decide.I'm not suggesting that ISKCON is the equiv. of a Saudi fundoo religious group,but questioning the argument that if only a small number are infiltrators,the entity should be allowed to operate.Religious groups and NGOs can easily be manipulated from abroad as very often,their major source of funding is from foreign donations like many Christian groups in India.It is solely the perogative of the country in question to decide whether the group is a threat or not.If the GOI feels that it can monitor the groups in Q in India and deal with such threats,then that is its decision.Secondly Orthodox Christianity has been in India for 2000 yrs.,not a recent import.Catholicism arrived with the Portugese in some violent manner 500+ years ago.Some of the EJ entities are of very recent origin and their activities questionable.Discretion has to be observed in deciding which ones need to be banned.For this concrete evidence is required.

In the Russian controversy,the Russians should decide whether a ban is required, or if not,then action taken against hate groups.

[Agnimitra]

It is solely the perogative of the country in question to decide whether the group is a threat or not.If the GOI feels that it can monitor the groups in Q in India and deal with such threats,then that is its decision.Secondly Orthodox Christianity has been in India for 2000 yrs.,not a recent import.Catholicism arrived with the Portugese in some violent manner 500+ years ago.Some of the EJ entities are of very recent origin and their activities questionable.Discretion has to be observed in deciding which ones need to be banned.For this concrete evidence is required.

Are you referring to the Syrian Christians as the Orthodox adherents of India? One could argue that period of stay has no bearing on credibility. Throughout their stay in India, Orthodox patriarchs from Syria would visit the flock in India to collect tithe, etc. This extra-territorial affinity and monetary outflow was not seen in negative light by the Hindu administrators. But later, after India had already been weakened under prolonged Islamic assault, it were the Syrian Christians of Kerala who enthusiastically welcomed Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese presence, and thereby established Christian Europe's first colonial link with India. So length of stay is not a deciding factor, some could easily argue, and the track record hasn't been all rosy. So does that mean that today Hindus must cast suspicion on all Syrian Christians in India? I wouldn't support that. Incidentally, Christianity itself entered Russia (and most other places) via considerable violence, so it is rather strange for them to even set criteria.

What matters is civilizational control, affinity and communication channels as evaluated in Present Time. Therefore, India can and must make the persecution of any Hindu or Buddhist sect a civilizational matter. India can and must add that subtle dimension. India must let Russia know that the persecution of Hindus or Buddhists by Russian government or society will be treated as an assault on Indo-Russian relations. It must be communicated at the highest political levels. Incidentally, the Vajpayee government did do this, and the Russians responded well. But it looks like under the pseudo-secular Congress sultanate, the Russian government thinks it can go back to strong-arming the Iskconers and other Hindus and Buddhists and kicking them back out into the cold.

[Austin]

Hare Krishna and the Russian Orthodox Church

A Russian Krishnaite responds to allegations against ISKCON

[Austin]

Preliminary estimates show growth in Indo-Russian trade in 2013 - Lukashevich

How is the Russian-Indian cooperation in business and trade progressing?

Since 2000, the bilateral trade volume has increased six-fold. A positive momentum could be maintained even during the global financial and economic crisis. In 2012, the trade turnover reached a record high of $11 billion, compared with $8.9 billion in 2011, thus an increase of 24.5 percent. Of particular note is that high-tech products dominate the mutual trade turnover. According to preliminary estimates, the volume of trade in 2013 will exceed that of the previous year.

The construction of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant can be called a successful example of the Russian- Indian partnership. This year, the physical start up of the station’s first unit took place and work is under way to start its commercial operation. The second power-generating unit is in the final phase of construction. The most reliable and advanced technological solutions in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy are implemented in the construction of the Kudankulam plant.

Could you describe the IRIGC’s contribution to the development of bilateral cooperation?

The IRIGC has played a key role in bilateral cooperation. At the 18th meeting of the commission in New Delhi on October 15 last year the main directions of cooperation and future joint projects were approved. Significant progress was made, especially in nuclear power, metallurgy, mining, jewellery, chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, automotive, banking and financial services, science and technology and tourism.

In the course of the IRIGC’s next meeting, priority projects of bilateral cooperation will be identified. The top priority goals include the development of economic relations through investment and joint ventures, implementation of agreements in innovative and high-tech sectors (biomedical, nanotechnology, information and communication technologies). A special emphasis is placed on the modernization of the economy. The Russian-Indian Forum on Trade and Investment held in St Petersburg on September 20, contributed to the promotion of bilateral cooperation in these areas. More than 100 delegates, including heads of leading Russian and Indian companies participated in it. We expect that the first meeting constituted within the IRIGC, the Indo-Russian Working Group on priority investment projects, which will be held in Moscow on October 2 to be meaningful and fruitful.

[Austin]

Interview with Salman Khurshid

Investment in Russia a 'high priority' for India - Salman Khurshid

[Philip]

In my earlier post ,freedom of religious beliefs is now part of the Russian constitution post Soviet era.Protection of religious groups allowed to operate within Russia is the duty of the state and criminal attacks against them must be prosecuted.Therefore,the Russians have to deliver on that score regardless of the origin or nature of the religious group.One is being objective here.Whether a group is considered dangerous to the state or not and should be banned is the perogative of that state.

However,can we truly defend every entity around the globe from "persecution",whose religious beliefs earlier originated from India? The activities of such groups are unknown and not under control by the GOI.We cannot defend any religious group as if it were a state entity.Going down that track would invite a hornet's nest of interference against India by foreign vested interests.As in France religion and the state are separated and must be kept apart.We have had scant success with the Chinese about the persecution of the Tibetans and with the Pakis about the persecution of Hindus in Pak,yet we continue to walk the peace trail with them,trade in large measure,etc.,etc. racist attacks against Indians in the West is commonplace,Oz and the US for example.The last incident involving the insult to a turbaned Sikh is just one of many.How do we reduce these attacks?

What we can do is to diplomatically request the Russians to let the law prevail,protection of ISKCON members under Russian law and prosecution of the criminal gangs.As a member has said above,it should be viewed more as an attack on our culture by thuggery,emphasised as wounding our sensitivities,which if not protected,would affect our mutual human relations actually more important than inter-state governmental relations,which would also cast a shadow on our ties.

[JwalaMukhi]

What is needed is actually a thread "understanding Russia". Russia spans over ten time zones and has population that is as much as the population of pakistan. Its male population was steadily decreasing for some time disproportionately. It has had a very interesting trajectory historically. Through the murderous regime of Stalin etc., Russia has become what it is today and how it is trying to find its way going forward.

As bastion of communism it has suffered heavily from achieving what it could truly have. Local vigilante and reporting to state has damaged how people interact and feel about others. It has had roughly half million people commit suicide in the last decade. In this context it is easy to see how people who are not exposed to "others" mete out treatment.

State controlled communist way of doing things, privileges to some select. This essentially necessitates locking out a majority of population from accessing things that are "status symbols", 'luxury items", heck even basic things. In order to let most people to have access to those things requires 'opening upto market driven way of conducting things'. Apart from that it requires a mentality to 'share' things and not feel envious. However, the communist way of doing things has done immense damage in keeping 'basic things' out of reach for common man/woman for too long and that leads to envy. This has been the script that has played out in Russia.

Russia has a principal gripe that they could have been different, but aren't, due to various stupid policies for way too long, just similar to India. It is interesting to study Russian history, in fact at one time people were escaping from the erstwhile SU, to move to China to better their lives.

Sadly India has copied this stupid way of doing things in toto, so some of the select few, could feel 'privileged'. Essentially that "privileged VIP culture" has taken deep root in India, most ably powered by the babus and politicos. So it has been a "bhai-bhai culture", where a set of "privileged VIPs" from both the countries understand each other and forge agreements in procurements etc. There are no 'bhai-bhais'. Everyone will be pursuing what is their best interest, but that requires from being a bhai-bhai thing, to being 'grown adult people' with responsibility.

Russia is slowly turning around. It requires time, and it will not be a open society accepting of "others" for long time to come. It is not up their ally and gumption.

[Austin]

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to arrive in Moscow for the 14th Russia-India summit on October 20. Ahead of the meeting, Ajai Malhotra, Ambassador of India to Russia, talked with the Voice of Russia very own Natalya Benyukh. In his exclusive interview Ambassador Malhotra spoke about Russia-India relations and prospects for future cooperation between the two states. According to Mr. Malhotra, Russia is India's leading partner in military-technical cooperation and it is the only country with which India has an Inter-Governmental Commission that is personally headed by Indian Defence Minister.

Russia India’s foremost partner in nuclear energy, defence, and science - Ambassador Malhotra

[Prem]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 301750.cms
India, Russia pact to extend BrahMos missile partnership

NEW DELHI: India and Russia are expected to sign a pact during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit there to extend their partnership indefinitely for producing the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. A proposal in this regard was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security in its meeting today headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, sources said here. The Prime Minister will embark on a two-day visit to Russia on October 20 after which he will go to China. New Delhi and Moscow had agreed for a 15-year partnership when the agreement was signed in 1998 and then extended it up to February 2014 earlier this year. With this new pact, the two countries will continue to have partnership in this venture as long as they want. The BrahMos, jointly developed by India and Russia, is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of 300 kg. The missile can cruise at a maximum speed of 2.8 Mach (or 2.8 times the speed of sound).India is readying several versions of the missile which includes land attack, anti-ship and submarine-launched versions. India and Russia had recently also agreed to develop a hypersonic version of the cruise missile. India has plans of deploying the BrahMos on its frontline fighter aircraft Su-30MKI in next few years and trials are expected to be carried out by early next year

[Philip]

The second Akula,completing the Irbis is on the anvil,plus other matters FGFA,etc.,apart from strategic issues like the Afghanistan situ,Chinese aggro and expansion,extra N-plants are for discussion. Here is some wise advice from the Indian Express.

http://newindianexpress.com/editorials/ ... 846163.ece

Secure Russia alliance to trim China's sails

By The New Indian Express

Published: 21st October 2013 06:00 AM

Last Updated: 21st October 2013 12:33 AM

As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh starts his five-day visit to Russia and China, it is time to see that India’s Look East policy helps it meet Beijing’s mounting challenge. “Indian and Russian companies have been holding negotiations on finalising arrangements for Koodankulam units 3 and 4, and I am confident that these contracts would be finalised shortly,” Singh told Russian journalists ahead of the summit. India and Russia have also recently agreed to set up a joint study group to look into the construction of an oil pipeline from Russia to India via Afghanistan and Pakistan.

From Moscow, the Prime Minister flies to Beijing to meet his counterpart Li Keqiang on October 23, his second in six months. He will also be meeting President Xi Jingping. India has been losing ground to a relentless and focussed China bent on minimising Indian initiatives in Central Asia and elsewhere, which last saw its stake in the Kashagan oil field in Kazakhstan being sold to a Chinese company. An unfazed Singh is offering Beijing an easier investment route for Chinese infrastructure companies without discriminating civil construction firms building highways, ports and airports where India could do with Chinese funds and expertise, and investment by the PLA-linked Chinese telecom giants Huawei Technologies and ZTE, which is avoidable.

This context endows Singh’s consultations with the Kremlin with critical importance. Russia, too, fears the accretion of comprehensive power to Beijing. India needs to tell president Putin that partnership with India is needed to trim China’s sails, reminding him of a thinly-populated Russia being at the mercy of China, and about the vulnerability of the Russian military high-technology sector to Chinese theft and reverse-engineering. Russia continues to remain a trusted partner in defence for India and talks are likely to be held on several ongoing issues and projects including the fifth generation fighter aircraft that is being co-developed and is to be co-produced by Russia and India.